"ملف رقم 1/8 مركز الدراسات العربية - القدس" [و‎‎٥] (٧٠/٩)

-2- ^cs)
and lectures are delivered every week by experts on a variety
of subjects ranging from "A History of the Crusades" to "Women*s
place in Islamic Life"* The students are often required to write
an essay some few days after having heard a lecture on a particular
subject and the Director makes a point of dealing with each
individual essay himself.
5. The High Commissioner in Palestine ? the District Officers,
Glubb Pasha of Trans-Jordan, and other experienced administrators
and Arabists often ask students from the Course either to spend
the week-end at their homes or to accompany them on a short tour.
Many of the lecture^ are the most expert that can be obtcilii^d on
their particular subject and all of them are men of considerable
experience of the Middle East and the ways of the inhabitants
thereof. • The Centre is particularly fortunate in having Colonel
Bertram Thomas as its first Director for he is personally known
to the vast majority of experts on Arabia and #Arab affairs and
can thus induce many shy officials to convey some portion of
their knowledge to his students when they visit Jerusalem besides
being able to persuade the busiest of officials to spare the
time to deliver lectures. In addition of course, Colonel Bertram
Thomas is a well known literary figure and an explorer of renown
with a very sound knowledge of Arabic and a curious proficiency
in a number of colloquial dialects.
6. The Centre is financed by the Foreign Office and the Army
and although no specific promise is made to individual students
it is more than probable that each officer who qualifies at the
Centre will quickly find employment. I have been given to under
stand that the Colonial Office have asked for five of the students
every year. I think it would be admirable if one or two officers
of the Indian Political Service could be sent on the Course each
year. They would have an opportunity of learning a very important
language and of acquiring a knowledge of Middle East affairs
which would be of the utmost value to them and to India.
24-10-1944.